Sound reproducing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A device which can be installed in a variety of toys, for reproducing sounds previously recorded in grooves on the surface of a rotatable cylinder. The device includes a drive arrangement for causing the cylinder to rotate, a clutch mechanism for limiting rotation of the cylinder to a single direction, a brake mechanism for controlling the speed of rotation of the cylinder, and a sound reproducing system for playing back a particular sound sequence recorded on the cylinder.

111) States 1151 3,635,179 Usnnle 1451 Jon. W, 1972 [5 SUUND REPROlDlUQllNG APPAMTUS 1 Relerenwe (31M UNlTED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventor: Gabriel Ramirez Osante, La Florida, Mexic 1,066,716 7/1913 Davy ..188/184 X 3,370,855 2/1968 Lindsay ..274/l.1 [73] ASSlgl'lCfiZ C18 Industrial d1! Novedades Plnstrws y 3 450 239 6/19 9 Ryan et a] 274/ X Meme, 3,468,546 9/1969 Duncan et all ..274/1.1 x [22] Filed: Sept. 4, 1969 Primary ExaminerLeonard Forman PP 855,200 Assistant ExaminerSteven L. Stephan Attorney-Anthony A. Juettner and L. Me Roy Lillehaugen [30] Foreign Application Priority Dam ABSTRACT Sept. 21, 1968 Mexico ..105993 A evice whi h can e in all in a v i y f oy f reproducing sounds previously recorded in grooves on the sur- [52] us. Cl. "274/17, 274/1 A, 274/7 fa f a rotatable ylin Th device in a ri r- [51] 1:11.61 ....G11l) 3/011,Gl 1b 25/02 rangement for causing the cylinder to rotate, a clutch [58] Field 011' Search ..274/l.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, mechanism for limiting rotation of the cylinder to a single direction, a brake mechanism for controlling the speed of rotation of the cylinder, and a sound reproducing system for playing back a particular sound sequence recorded on the cylinder.

9 lClnims, 6 Drawing Figures SOUND REPRODUCTNG APPARATUS This invention pertains to an apparatus for reproducing sound, and more particularly to a device for reproducing previously recorded sounds in toys such as dolls, small cars, and the like.

Device of various types are known for reproducing sounds recorded on small records, cylinders, or tapes. One known disadvantage in devices using disc type records is that the linear velocity of the groove decreases as the groove approaches the middle of the record, and since this velocity has to be a specified minimum required for a good recording, the speed on the periphery of the record has to be much greater than the minimum required, which means that the total length of the groove must be greater than one necessary to record the same sound phase on a cylinder. in the present invention, wherein a cylinder or drum is used, a more compact construction is permitted because the grooves have the same diameter along the external face of the cylinder; therefore, a uniform linear velocity may be used which may be the minimum required to obtain a good sound quality.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for reproducing prerecorded sounds.

Another object is to provide a sound reproducing apparatus for use in toys, which is small and compact in design, and which is reliable and rugged in construction in order to withstand repeated use and probable abuse.

A further object is to provide a sound reproducing apparatus which includes a rotatably mounted record cylinder, having an improved arrangement for controlling rotational speed of the cylinder.

A still further object is to provide a sound reproducing apparatus which includes a rotatably mounted cylinder, having an improved arrangement for permitting the cylinder to rotate in a single direction.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration ofrthe following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view with parts broken away to show more clearly some of the parts, of the sound reproducing apparatus;

FlG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 3, which illustrates the apparatus in greater detail;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the apparatus in partial section, taken along line 3-3 of HO. 2;

FlG. Al is a rear elevational view of'the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 11;

HO. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIGJ. illustrates a frame member or housing 18 having a first end wall 112 and a second end wall 114 separated from the wall 112 by a member 116. As shown, the wall 112 is provided with an opening 118 and a pair of smaller openings 20, the wall M is provided with an elongated slot 22, and the member 16 is provided with an opening 24 therein (note FIG. 6).

As shown more fully in H6. 2, a shaft 26 is mounted within the housing It) so that its ends are rotatably positioned within the opening 18 and the slot 22. A record cylinder, designated generally by numeral 28, is fixedly connected to the shaft 26, and it is operatively connected at a first end 80 to a brake mechanism or governor 32. A reel mechanism 34 is positioned proximate the second end 36 of the cylinder, an actuating mechanism or spring motor designated by numeral 40 (note FIG. 3) is operatively connected to the reel 36, and a sound reproducing system 82 is arranged to coact with the cylinder 28 to play a sound sequence recorded in a groove on the periphery of the cylinder 28.

The record cylinder 28 is comprised of a cup-shaped core member 44- which is fixedly connected to the shaft 26 by appropriate means, and a sleeve 46 which fits snugly over the core member 64 so that they rotate as a unit about the axis of the shaft 26. The sleeve 46 is formed of an appropriate material, and it is provided with several parallel spiral or helical grooves cut on its periphery, which advance in the direction of the axis of the cylinder. Each groove has an independent entry at the end 36 of the cylinder and a common exit at the other end 38 of the cylinder. Since the manner in which the grooves are cut and placed on the cylinder is generally well known in the art, it will not be shown or described in detail. Each groove is provided with a separate recording therein so that multiple phrases can be reproduced, depending upon which specific groove the reproducing system engages.

The brake mechanism 32 includes a cylindrical brake housing or drum 88 having a hub 52 which forms a bearing surface for the shaft 26. The housing 50 is interposed between the wall 12 and the cylinder 28 and it is connected to the wall 12 by means of a pair of projections 54} which are positioned within the openings 28 and wall 12; thus, the housing 58 is held in a fixed position relative to the rotating shaft 26. It might be pointed out however, that the housing 50 as well as the cylinder and the shaft are permitted to pivot slightly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wall 12; this feature will be described below in greater detail. The housing 58 is provided with a plurality of teeth 56 which are formed on its inner surface proximate the edge adjacent to the cylinder 28. Three planetary gears 58, 68, and 62 are rotatably mounted on bearing surfaces 66, 66, and 68 respectively, which form a part of the surface 70 of the core member 44. As shown more fully in FIG. 6, each planetary gear meshes with the gear teeth 56 formed on the brake housing. A brake support 72 having teeth 74 on a portion of its periphery, is rotatably mounted on the shaft 26 in such a manner that it meshes with each of the planetary gears. A pair of weights 76 and 78 are pivotally connected at points 88 and 82 respectively, to a portion of the brake support 72. The gear teeth 56, the planetary gears 58, 60 and 62, and the brake support 72, thus comprise a planetary system in which the inside gearing of the brake housing is the stationary member, the planetary gears the impellers, and the rotatable brake support the driven member. As a result, a multiplication of the rotational speed of the brake support 72 can be obtained relative to the rotational speed of the core member 4' 1! and the shaft 26, so that the centrifugal force which is generated during rotation causes the weights 76 and 78 to pivot and brush against the inside surface of the brake housing 58 if the speed is too great, thus controlling or governing the speed of the unit.

The reel mechanism 34 includes a reel or pulley 86 which is positioned proximate the end 36 of the cylinder 28, between the cylinder and the wall M of the frame lit). The reel 86 is freely rotatable with respect to the shaft 26, and it is formed with an integral drum 88. A pull string or cord 98 is attached at one end to the reel 86, and it is wound around the reel a number of turns after which the free end is threaded through the opening 24 in member ll6 and attached to a ring 92. As will be described below, the pull string forms a part of the manual operating means for causing the apparatus to operate.

A clutch mechanism is provided for causing the shaft 26, and consequently the record cylinder 28, to rotate in a single direction, i.e., a first direction, about the shaft axis. The clutch includes a coil spring 94 mounted on the shaft 26 within the cylinder 28, which is attached at one end to a lug 96 formed on the reel 86. The spring 94 is wound onto the shaft 26 with a slight pressure on the surface of the shaft; as a result, rotational movement of the reel 86 in the direction of the winding, i.e., the first direction, causes the spring to tighten further about or press around the shaft thereby causing it to rotate in the same direction as the reel. Rotation of the reel in the op' posite direction, i.e., a second direction, however, causes the spring 94 to loosen about the shaft and thus slide relative to it.

The actuating mechanism or spring motor 48 is provided for causing the reel mechanism 34 and the cylinder 28 to rotate in a prescribed direction. Generally, spring motors of the type presently used are well known in the art. The mechanism includes a storage drum 1180 mounted for rotation on a bracket 102 positioned adjacent to the frame member (in this regard note lFlG. 3) so that it is in general alignment with the reel drum 88. A coiled actuating or clock spring 104i is wound onto the drum 100 so that its major portion is positioned thereon, A first end of the spring is attached to the drum 100,

while a second end of the spring is attached to the reel drum 100, and the spring 104. As depicted more fully in FIG. 2, the

spring 104 causes the shaft 26 to separate slightly from the bottom of the groove 22.

The sound-reproducing mechanism 42 includes a support member 106 which is mounted for axial movement along a shaft 108. A spring 110 is attached at one end to the support member 106 and at its other end to the wall 14, and it tends to urge or bias the support member 106 toward the wall 14, as well as toward the record cylinder 28. A motion-transmitting member 112 is attached to the support member 106 so that it moved with the member 106, and it in turn supports or holds a needle or stylus 114. A cone-shaped speaker or reproducing cone 116 is attached to the walls 12 and 14, and its apex 118 contacts the surface of the motion-transmitting member 112. A sound-reproducing system of this type is generally well known in the art, therefore, no detailed description of its construction or operation is believed to be necessary, other than to point out that the tracking movement of the needle 114 in a particular groove on a record cylinder, is coupled to the speaker 116 by means of the motion-transmitting member 112.

in operation, the apparatus is manually operated by grasping the end of the pull string 90 and pulling it. Such action causes the reel mechanism 34, Le, the reel and the reel drum 88, to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, also referred to herein as the second direction. The clutch mechanism, and more particularly the coil spring 94 loosens about the shaft 26; as a result, the record cylinder 28 and the brake mechanism 32 remain in a stationary position during rotation of the reel in the second direction. Since the major portion of the spring 104 is normally wound around the drum 100, a portion of it is transferred to, or wound around the reel drum 88, depending upon the distance that the pull string 90 is pulled. The clutch mechanism thus permits the spring 104 to be wound onto the reel drum 88 without having to pull or rotate the entire apparatus. Pulling of the pull string 90 also causes the shaft 26 to pivot slightly relative to the wall 12. in other words, the end of the shaft within the slot 22 moves a slight amount toward the bottom of the slot, against the biasing action of the spring 104. Such action separates the needle 114 from its position within a particular groove on the record cylinder, and thus permits the support member 106 to move toward the wall 14, due to the elasticity of the spring 1 10. The needle 114 is now positioned proximate the second end 36 of the cylinder, and it will be placed within a groove when the shaft 26 returns to its normal position.

By releasing the pull string 90, the spring 104 rewinds onto the drum 100, and in so doing, causes the reel 86 and the reel drum 88 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, also referred to herein as the first direction. Moreover, since the pulling force has been removed from the string 90, the shaft 26 and the cylinder 28 move toward the sound-reproducing mechanism 42 so that the needle 114 engages one of the grooves on the cylinder. Counter rotation of the reel 86 causes the coil spring 94 to tighten about the shaft 26, thus causing the shaft to rotate in the first direction. As the cylinder rotates, the needles 114, member 112 is pressed against and slides along the apex of the reproducing cone 116. The needle 114, on running over the groove on which it has fallen, transmits the vibrations recorded in the groove to the reproducing cone 116 to be amplified and reproduced as distinct phrases.

The brake mechanism 32 prevents the shaft 26 and the record cylinder 28 from rotating too fast. If the spring motor 40 causes the reel 86 to rotate too fast, the planetary gears 64, 66 and 63, cause the brake support 72 to revolve at such a rate that the weights "[6 and 78 pivot at points 80 and 82 respectively, and brush against the inner surface of the brake housing 50, thus causing the rotational speed of the cylinder to slow down to a desired rate.

In the above description and attached drawings, a disclosure of the principles of this invention is presented, together with some of the specific examples by which the invention might be carried out.

Now, therefore, I claim:

I. A sound-reproducing apparatus comprising an apparatus housing, a shaft rotatably mounted within said housing, a substantially hollow recording cylinder having first and second ends and at least one spiral groove on its periphery containing a sound recording therein, means for fixedly attaching said cylinder to the shaft for rotation about the axis of said shaft as said shaft rotates, a reel rotatably mounted on said shaft proximate one end of said cylinder for relative rotation in first and second directions, clutch means positioned within the cylinder for operatively connecting said reel to said cylinder whereby said shaft and said cylinder can be caused to rotate in the first direction in response to rotational movement of said reel in said first direction, said clutch permitting said shaft and said cylinder to remain stationary when said reel rotates in the second direction, means operatively connected to said reel for causing it to rotate in the first direction, manual operating means operatively connected to said reel for causing it to rotate in said second direction, brake means operatively connected to the cylinder for controlling the rotational speed of the shaft and the cylinder, said brake means being mounted on said shaft proximate the other end of the cylinder so that it is coaxial with said shaft and said cylinder, said brake means including a cylindrical housing and at least one weight rotatably mounted within said cylindrical housing, said cylindrical housing being fixed with respect to said apparatus housing and including an inner surface, means for operatively connecting said weight to said cylinder so that said weight is adapted to rotatein response to rotation of said cylinder and to contact and rub against the inner surface of said cylindrical housing as the cylinder is caused to rotate, an increased rate of rotation of said cylinder causing an increased contact pressure between said weight and said inner surface, thus causing the cylinder to slow down, and means for reproducing the sound recorded in the groove on the cylinder.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the reel includes a drum which forms a part thereof, and the means for causing the reel to rotate in said first direction comprises a spring motor which includes said reel drum, a storage drum positioned proximate the reel, and a spring member having means for attaching one of its ends to the storage drum and its other end to the reel drum, the major portion of said spring member being normally coiled about the storage drum.

3.'The combination of claim 2 wherein the shaft has one of its ends rotatably mounted within a slot formed in the housing in such a manner that said end can be moved within said slot in more than one direction, and means for biasing the shaft and the cylinder toward the sound-reproducing means, the end of said shaft being movable away from the sound-reproducing means in response to a force exerted on the shaft in a direction away from said means.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said biasing means includes the spring member of the spring motor, said spring member being wound onto the drums in such a manner that it tends to bias said shaft and said cylinder in the desired direction.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical brake housing is provided with a plurality of gear teeth on a portion of its inner surface, least one planetary gear rotatably mounted on the first end of the cylinder in such a manner that it meshes with the gear teeth on the brake housing, said planetary gearing being caused to rotate about its axis in response to rotational movement of the cylinder. a brake support having a plurality of teeth on its periphery rotatably mounted on said shaft so that it meshes with the planetary gear and is caused to rotate in response to relative rotation of said planetary gear, at

a greater angular velocity than the velocity of the shaft, said weight being pivotally connected to the brake support in such a manner that rotational movement of said support causes the weight to move radially away from said support.

6. The combination of claim l'wherein the clutch means includes a coil spring mounted on the shaft within the record cylinder, means for attaching a first end of said spring to the reel, said spring being wound on said shaft in' such a manner that rotational movement of the reel in the first direction causes the spring to tighten about said shaft thereby causing it to rotate in said first direction, rotational movement of the reel in the second direction causing the spring to loosen and slide on the shaft whereby said shaft and cylinder do not rotate in said second direction.

7 The combination of claim 1 wherein the record cylinder includes a cup-shaped core member and a sleeve member which surrounds said core member and is secured thereto, said core member being fixedly mounted to the shaft and having at least one mounting means on its first end for rotatably mounting a gear thereon.

The combination of claim ll wherein a plurality of spiral grooves are provided on the periphery of the record cylinder, said grooves being parallel with respect to each other and each groove having a different recording relative to the other grooves, the sound-reproducing means being adapted to randomly select one of said grooves.

9. The combination of claim ll wherein the means for reproducing the sound recorded in the groove on the cylinder includes a stylus mounted for movement along an axis parallel to the shaft axis, a motion-transmitting member in which the stylus is positioned, a reproducing cone which is fixedly mounted relative to the housing, said stylus and the motiontransmitting member, being movable relative to said cone, and means for urg'ng the stylus into engagement with the groove in the cylinder and for urging the stylus and the motion-transmitting member toward the second end of said cylinder. 

1. A sound-reproducing apparatus comprising an apparatus housing, a shaft rotatably mounted within said housing, a substantially hollow recording cylinder having first and second ends and at least one spiral groove on its periphery containing a sound recording therein, means for fixedly attaching said cylinder to the shaft for rotation about the axis of said shaft as said shaft rotates, a reel rotatably mounted on said shaft proximate one end of said cylinder for relative rotation in first and second directions, clutch means positioned within the cylinder for operatively connecting said reel to said cylinder whereby said shaft and said cylinder can be caused to rotate in the first direction in response to rotational movement of said reel in said first direction, said clutch permitting said shaft and said cylinder to remain stationary when said reel rotates in the second direction, means operatively connected to said reel for causing it to rotate in the first direction, manual operating means operatively connected to said reel for causing it to rotate in said second direction, brake means operatively connected to the cylinder for controlling the rotational speed of the shaft and the cylinder, said brake means being mounted on said shaft proximate the other end of the cylinder so that it is coaxial with said shaft and said cylinder, said brake means including a cylindrical housing and at least one weight rotatably mounted within said cylindrical housing, said cylindrical housing being fixed with respect to said apparatus housing and including an inner surface, means for operatively connecting said weight to said cylinder so that said weight is adapted to rotate in response to rotation of said cylinder and to cOntact and rub against the inner surface of said cylindrical housing as the cylinder is caused to rotate, an increased rate of rotation of said cylinder causing an increased contact pressure between said weight and said inner surface, thus causing the cylinder to slow down, and means for reproducing the sound recorded in the groove on the cylinder.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the reel includes a drum which forms a part thereof, and the means for causing the reel to rotate in said first direction comprises a spring motor which includes said reel drum, a storage drum positioned proximate the reel, and a spring member having means for attaching one of its ends to the storage drum and its other end to the reel drum, the major portion of said spring member being normally coiled about the storage drum.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the shaft has one of its ends rotatably mounted within a slot formed in the housing in such a manner that said end can be moved within said slot in more than one direction, and means for biasing the shaft and the cylinder toward the sound-reproducing means, the end of said shaft being movable away from the sound-reproducing means in response to a force exerted on the shaft in a direction away from said means.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said biasing means includes the spring member of the spring motor, said spring member being wound onto the drums in such a manner that it tends to bias said shaft and said cylinder in the desired direction.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical brake housing is provided with a plurality of gear teeth on a portion of its inner surface, least one planetary gear rotatably mounted on the first end of the cylinder in such a manner that it meshes with the gear teeth on the brake housing, said planetary gearing being caused to rotate about its axis in response to rotational movement of the cylinder, a brake support having a plurality of teeth on its periphery rotatably mounted on said shaft so that it meshes with the planetary gear and is caused to rotate in response to relative rotation of said planetary gear, at a greater angular velocity than the velocity of the shaft, said weight being pivotally connected to the brake support in such a manner that rotational movement of said support causes the weight to move radially away from said support.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the clutch means includes a coil spring mounted on the shaft within the record cylinder, means for attaching a first end of said spring to the reel, said spring being wound on said shaft in such a manner that rotational movement of the reel in the first direction causes the spring to tighten about said shaft thereby causing it to rotate in said first direction, rotational movement of the reel in the second direction causing the spring to loosen and slide on the shaft whereby said shaft and cylinder do not rotate in said second direction.
 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the record cylinder includes a cup-shaped core member and a sleeve member which surrounds said core member and is secured thereto, said core member being fixedly mounted to the shaft and having at least one mounting means on its first end for rotatably mounting a gear thereon.
 8. The combination of claim 1 wherein a plurality of spiral grooves are provided on the periphery of the record cylinder, said grooves being parallel with respect to each other and each groove having a different recording relative to the other grooves, the sound-reproducing means being adapted to randomly select one of said grooves.
 9. The combination of claim 1 wherein the means for reproducing the sound recorded in the groove on the cylinder includes a stylus mounted for movement along an axis parallel to the shaft axis, a motion-transmitting member in which the stylus is positioned, a reproducing cone which is fixedly mounted relative to the housing, said stylus and the motion-transmitting member, being movable relative to said coNe, and means for urging the stylus into engagement with the groove in the cylinder and for urging the stylus and the motion-transmitting member toward the second end of said cylinder. 